Romano's route into the space industry wasn't a straight line. After graduating, he joined a graduate scheme before completing a part-time MSc in RF Engineering at the University of Surrey. He then moved into the power sector as an RF Network Engineer, leading research into how wind turbines affect UHF radio links and modernising the software used to assess those impacts.
Looking for a role that would allow him to get closer to the engineering itself, Romano joined SSTL as an RF Engineer.
Since then, he's combined his core role as a Module Engineer with a range of projects across software, communications and firmware development. From leading the development of automated test software for RF power amplifiers, to supporting the adoption of DVB-S2 communications standards and contributing to low-level firmware development, his work spans far beyond a single discipline.
"Looking ahead, I'd like to become more involved in the design side of our systems and explore opportunities to contribute to research into new technologies and applications. Being able to help shape what's next is something that really excites me."
For Romano, it's that combination of specialist expertise, technical challenge and opportunities to grow that makes a career in space engineering so rewarding.